A federal jury has found a Florida pharmacist guilty of illegally distributing more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills through two pharmacies, in a scheme prosecutors said prioritised profit over patient safety.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, was convicted on Monday in the Southern District of Florida on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and five counts of illegal drug distribution.
According to prosecutors, Yusuf dispensed at least 335,351 tablets of 30-milligram oxycodone through Boots LLC, operating as Striderite in Margate, and Chans Pharmacy Plus in Pembroke Pines.
Court documents and testimony presented during the trial alleged that Yusuf supplied the powerful opioid to customers without legitimate medical needs and required cash payments for the prescriptions.
The Justice Department noted that oxycodone 30 mg is the highest available dosage and is generally reserved for patients experiencing severe pain, including those with cancer or traumatic injuries.
Investigators said many customers travelled from different parts of Florida to obtain prescriptions that other pharmacies had refused to fill, with some reportedly paying up to $1,000 in cash every month.
Prosecutors also alleged that certain customers acted as drug dealers, collecting prescriptions on behalf of numerous patients who were not present at the pharmacies.
Witnesses told the court that Yusuf kept the pharmacy doors locked during business hours and instructed staff to admit only selected customers.
Authorities said she continued dispensing the drugs despite repeated warnings from employees and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration over suspicious transactions and the risks associated with the operation.
Commenting on the verdict, Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald said, “The defendant abused the public trust by using her pharmacies to unlawfully distribute deadly opioids.”
FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia also condemned Yusuf’s actions, saying, “By distributing dangerous and highly addictive narcotics, the defendant demonstrated a clear disregard for their community and endangered countless residents who should have been able to trust their pharmacist.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said Yusuf “knowingly flooded South Florida communities with more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills” while placing financial gain ahead of public safety.
Yusuf’s co-defendant, Saman Gimenez, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances and is expected to be sentenced in October.
Yusuf faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. Her sentencing has been scheduled for October 14, 2026.
The investigation was carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Trial Attorney Angela Benoit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline DerOvanesian prosecuted the case
